Exocrine gland tight junction-constituting protein JEAP family

ABSTRACT

A mouse cDNA library from gene fragments encoding proteins localizing at cell—cell junctions was screened by a technique visualizing localization of a protein to identify a junction-enriched and -associated protein, JEAP. GenBank homology search was performed based on the sequence. Based on the obtained sequence, a mouse cDNA library was screened to identify JEAP-2. By using prepared antibodies against these proteins, it was revealed that these proteins express specifically at tight junctions, in particular, tight junctions in exocrine glands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is co-pending with, shares at least one commoninventor with, and hereby claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/298,417, filed Nov. 15, 2002, which was co-pending with,shared at least one common inventor with, and claimed priority toJapanese Patent Application Serial Number JP2001-352241, filed Nov. 16,2001. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel component protein of tightjunctions (hereinafter referred to as TJs) of exocrine glands and usesof the protein.

In multicellular animals, information on junction of adjacent cells isdeeply related to control and maintenance of life phenomena such asproliferation and differentiation of cells, inflammation, and metastasisof cancers. In many cases, intercellular adhesion molecules thatparticipate in adhesion gather on the surface of cells to form amembrane region uniquely differentiated for adhesion. In particular, inepithelial cells, it has been known that intercellular adhesionmolecules such as cadherin are strongly bound to cytoskeleton in thecytoplasm domain.

Such a membrane region, which is called an intercellular adhesionmechanism, is generally classified into four types: gap junction (GJ),adherens junction (AJ), desmosome and tight junction (TJ).

TJ is one of intercellular adhesion mechanisms in the epithelial orendothelial cell layer. It plays a role of a physical barrier forpreventing free passage of solutes and water through extracellular space(barrier function), and constitutes a continuous peripheral sealsurrounding the cells. Also, it is considered that TJ plays a role of aboundary between apical and basolateral cytomembrane regions for formingand maintaining cell polarity (fence function).

TJs comprise transmembrane protein molecules such as claudin, occludinand JAM and peripheral membrane proteins, such as ZO-1, -2, and -3,cingulin, 7H6, symplekin, Rab3B, Sec6/Sec8 homolog, ASIP/PAR-3, PAR-6,and MAGI-1. Claudin and occludin constitute the backbone of TJ strandsand are involved in the barrier function of TJs.

JAM is involved in cell-cell adhesion and/or junctional assembly ofendothelial and epithelial cells, as well as infiltration of monocytesthrough interstices between endothelial cells induced by chemokines.ZO-1, -2 and -3 are scaffold proteins containing PDZ domains anddirectly bind to claudin and occludin at the cytoplasmic surface of TJstrands. ZO-1, -2 and -3 also bind to F-actin and might regulate TJfunctions via cross-linking 1.1 strands and the actin cytoskeleton.Several other PDZ domains—containing proteins localized at TJs mightalso serve as landmarks to recruit cytoskeletal and signaling proteinsto TJ strands. As a non-F-actin binding scaffold protein, MAGI-1/2/3localizes at TJs and interacts with signaling molecules such as a tumorsuppressor gene product, PTEN, and a GDP/GTP exchange protein for Rapsmall G protein. ASIP/PAR-3 and PAR-6 are cell polarity-relatedmolecules containing PDZ domains and interact with a typical proteinkinase C (PKC). ASIP/PAR-3 interacts with JAM. Among peripheral membraneproteins devoid of PDZ domains at TJ strands, Rab3B and Sec6/Sec8homologs are involved in vesicular transport. Furthermore, cingulin, 7H6antigen, and symplekin have been known to localize at TJs. However,their functions have not been elucidated yet. Cingulin interacts withZO-1, -2 and -3, occludin, AF-6, and JAM.

To further characterize the molecular organization of TJ, identificationand provision of novel TJ-constituting proteins has been desired.

Meanwhile, a mouse cDNA clone (GenBank accession No. BAB30287) has beenreported by RIKEN as a gene whose function is unknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel componentprotein of TJs in exocrine glands.

To clarify the details of molecular organization of intercellularadhesion, the inventors of the present invention have attempted toscreen for novel proteins localized at cell—cell junctions by afluorescence-labeled protein localization-based expression cloningmethod.

First, several cDNA fragments derived from mouse vascular endothelialcell line MS-1 cells were expressed as GFP fusion proteins, and a cDNAfragment that encodes a gene product localized at the cell-celljunctions was isolated based on observation of subcellular distributionof the fluorescence-labeled proteins observed in exocrine glands such aspancreas, submandibular gland and lacrimal gland but not in smallintestine.

From the above results, it has been found that JEAP and JEAP-2 form agene family that constitutes TJs of exocrine glands, thereby achievingthe present invention.

Therefore, the present invention relates to the following items.

1. A protein of the following (a) or (b):

-   -   (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:        4; and    -   (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence having deletion,        substitution or addition of one or several amino acids in an        amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and        localizing at tight junctions, with a proviso that the protein        is not a protein having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID        NO: 2.

2. A DNA encoding the protein as defined in the item 1.

3. A DNA according to the item 2, having a nucleotide sequence shown inor SEQ ID NO: 3.

4. A DNA of the following (a) or (b):

-   -   (a) a DNA having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3;        and    -   (b) a DNA hybridizing with a DNA having a nucleotide sequence        complementary to a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or        SEQ ID NO: 3 under a stringent condition and encoding a protein        localizing at tight junctions, with a proviso that the DNA is        not a DNA having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

5. A DNA of the following (a) or (b):

-   -   (a) a DNA having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3;        and    -   (b) a DNA having a nucleotide sequence with 90% or more homology        to a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SE-Q ID NO: 3        and encoding a protein localizing at tight junctions,    -   with a proviso that the DNA is not a DNA having a nucleotide        sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

6. A protein encoded by the DNA as defined in the item 4 or 5.

7. A recombinant vector comprising the DNA as defined in any one of theitems 2 to 5.

8. A transformant obtained by transforming a host with the DNA asdefined in any one of the items 2 to 5.

9. A method for producing a protein localizing at tight junctions,comprising:

-   -   culturing the transformant as defined in the item 8; and    -   collecting a protein localizing at tight junctions expressed by        the transformant from the culture.

10. An antibody reacting with the protein as defined in the item 1.

11. A method for measuring the protein as defined in the item 1,comprising using the antibody as defined in the item 10 to measure theprotein.

12. A method for measuring a DNA or RNA encoding the protein as definedin the item 1, comprising using an oligonucleotide having a nucleotidesequence composed of at least 15 consecutive nucleotides in a nucleotidesequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3 as a primer or probe tomeasure the DNA or RNA.

13. A method for screening for a substance having a reactivity with theprotein as defined in the item 1 or a protein having an amino acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (1) mixing the protein as defined in the item 1 or the protein        having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a        partial peptide thereof with a test substance; and    -   (2) measuring an amount of the test substance bound or not bound        to the protein as defined in the item 1 or the protein having        the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or the partial        peptide thereof, thereby screening for the substance.

14. A method for screening for a substance affecting expression of theprotein as defined in the item 1 or a protein having an amino acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (1) culturing a cell expressing the protein as defined in the        item 1 or the protein having the amino acid sequence shown in        SEQ ID NO: 2 in the presence of a test substance; and    -   (2) measuring the protein as defined in the item 1 or the        protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2        expressed in the cell or mRNA encoding the protein as defined in        the item 1 or the protein having the amino acid sequence shown        in SEQ ID NO: 2 in thereby screening for the substance.

15. A method for screening a substance affecting expression of theprotein as defined in the item 1 or a protein having an amino acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of:

(1) identifying a promoter region controlling expression of the proteinas defined in item 1 or the protein having the amino acid sequence shownin SEQ ID NO: 2; and

(2) measuring an influence of a test substance on a promoter activity ofthe promoter region, thereby screening for the substance.

16. A method for screening for a substance affecting distribution of theprotein as defined in the item 1 or the protein having the amino acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of:

(1) culturing a cell expressing the protein as defined in the item 1 orthe protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in thepresence of a test substance; and

(2) measuring distribution of the protein as defined in claim 1 or theprotein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in thecell, thereby screening for the substance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of cDNA cloning for a proteinlocalized at an intercellular adhesion site.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing structural features of JEAP andJEAP-2, respectively, with polyglutamic acid repeat being indicated by ashaded box, a coiled-coil domain being indicated by an open box, and adomain resembling the consensus motif of proteins binding to a PDZdomain being indicated by a filled box.

FIG. 3 is a stained image of MDCK cell (photograph) showingdistributions of JEAP, JEAP-2, ZO-1 and E-cadherin.

FIG. 4 is a stained image to tissue (photograph) showing distributionsof JEAP and ZO-1 and an immuno-electron micrograph (photograph) showingdistribution of JEAP in intercellular space of an exocrine gland.

FIG. 5 is a stained image of tissue (photograph) showing distributionsof JEAP-2 and ZO-1.

FIG. 6 is a stained image of MDCK cell (photograph) showingdistributions of JEAP and ZO-1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. Forconvenience's sake, the protein which is revealed by the presentinventors that they localize at tight junctions, including the proteinhaving the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, are referred to as“the protein of the present invention”.

Of the proteins of the present invention, those proteins having theamino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 are proteins identifiedas ones localized at tight junctions, as will be described in Examplesbelow. Generally, proteins are expected to have mutants having theidentical function and appropriate modification of the amino acidsequence of a protein can give rise to a mutant having the identicalfunction. Therefore, those proteins that have an amino acid sequencehaving deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids inthe amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and thatlocalize at tight junctions are also encompassed by the proteins of thepresent invention.

The modification of the amino acid sequence of a protein can beperformed by modifying the nucleotide sequence of DNA encoding theprotein by a well-known means such as site-specific mutation inducingmethod and expressing the DNA having the modified nucleotide sequence.One skilled in the art can readily confirm localization of the proteinat tight junctions by means of, for example, a fluorescent antibodytechnique or immuno-electron microscopy.

The protein of the present invention may be converted into fusedproteins by fusing it with other proteins such as glutathionetransferase (GST) or 1his tag.

The DNA of the present invention is a DNA that encodes the protein ofthe present invention. The DNA of the present invention includes DNAhaving a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3. TheDNA was one whose nucleotide sequence was determined in Examplesdescribed below. Generally, for a gene, there are expected to existgenes that encode the same product but have different nucleotidesequences or genes that encode mutants having the same function as thatof the gene concerned. Also, modification of the nucleotide sequence ofthe gene can give rise to a gene that encodes a mutant producing thesame product or exhibiting the same function as that of the geneconcerned. Therefore, the DNA of the present invention encompasses DNAshaving nucleotide sequences similar to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ IDNO: 3 and encoding proteins localized at tight junctions. DNAs havingsimilar nucleotide sequences include DNAs that hybridize with a DNAhaving a nucleotide sequence complementary to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 orSEQ ID NO: 3 under a stringent condition and DNAs having nucleotidesequences with 90% or more homologies to the nucleotide sequence shownin SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3.

Here, the term “stringent condition” comprises, for example,hybridization at 65° C. in 4×SSC followed by washing at 65° C. for 1hour in 0.1×SSC. As an alternative method, the stringent conditioncomprises 42° C. in 4×SSC in 50% formamide. Also, conditions ofperforming hybridization at 65° C. for 2.5 hours in Perfect Flyb™(TOYOBO), followed by washings 1) 2×SSC, 0.05% SDS solution: 25° C., 5minutes. 2) 2×SSC, 0.05% SDS solution: 25° C., 15 minutes, and 3)0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS solution: 50° C., 20 minutes may be used.

The homology as used herein is the homology calculated by the Clustal Wmethod.

Whether a DNA encodes protein localizing at tight junctions may beeasily confirmed by expressing the DNA in a suitable cell which can formtight junctions, and determining the presence of the expressed proteinin tight junctions by a fluorescent antibody technique, immuno-electronmicroscopy and the like as described above.

The DNA of the present invention can be used in the analysis of the geneof JEAP family protein and in the analysis of the expression of genes,by using a part of it as a primer or a probe. By the term “a part” ismeant that the oligonucleotide used as a primer or a probe comprises apolynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence composed of at leastconsecutive 15 bases, preferably at least 20 bases, and more preferablyat least about 20 to 30 bases corresponding to the DNA sequence of thepresent invention. As a probe, polynucleotides having larger molecularweights and whole DNA may also be used.

The DNA of the present invention can be obtained by a conventionalmethod based on the revealed nucleotide sequence. For example, it can besynthesized by a chemical synthesis method, or by means of mRNA preparedfrom cells or tissues expressing the protein localized at the tightjunction of the present invention or by an RT-PCR method.

The gene manipulation can be performed by the method described in theliterature (Maniatis, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, (1989).

The vector of the present invention is a recombinant vector comprisingthe DNA of the present invention. The vector of the present inventionmay be obtained by inserting the DNA of the present invention into avector such as an expression vector.

The transformant of the present invention is a transformant that can beobtained by transforming a host with the DNA of the present inventionand expresses the protein of the present invention. The host is notparticularly limited and includes animal cells, bacteria cells. yeastcells, insect cells, and the like. The transformation may be performedby a conventional method. For example, it may be performed byintroduction into a host, of the vector of the present invention whichexpresses the protein of the present invention in the host.

The production method of the present invention is a method for producingthe protein localized at the tight junction of the present invention.The method includes culturing the transformant of the present inventionand collecting the protein expressed by the transformant and localizedat the tight junction from the culture.

The culture may be performed under the condition where the transformantexpresses the protein of the present invention. The collection of theprotein of the present invention from the culture may be performed byappropriate combinations of various chromatographies, electrophoreses,gel filtrations and the like that have been usually used for thepurification of proteins. In the case where the protein of the presentinvention is to be expressed as a fused protein with a tag such as GSTor His tag, the protein can be purified by using a glutathione Sepharosecolumn or a nickel Sepharose column, respectively.

The whole or a part of the JEAP protein of the present invention can beused as an epitope for preparing antibodies, which in turn can be usedas reagents for investigation and diagnosis. By the term “epitope” ismeant an antigenic determinant of a polypeptide, which generallycomprises at least six amino acids. It is known that polypeptidescomposed of six amino acids bind with antibodies (JP-60-500684 A). Theantigenic peptide of the protein of the present invention means apolypeptide composed of at least six consecutive amino acids, preferablyat least eight consecutive amino acids, more preferably at least about15 consecutive amino acids and still more preferably at least about 20consecutive amino acids based on the amino acid sequence of the presentinvention.

The antibody of the present invention can be obtained from animalsimmunized with the protein of the present invention obtained by theproduction method of the present invention or an antigenic peptidethereof. Polyclonal antibodies can be prepared from sera of theimmunized animals while monoclonal antibodies can be prepared by fusingantibody-producing cells obtained from the spleen or lymph nodes of theimmunized animals with myeloma cells and screening hybridomas producingantibodies showing strong specificity to the protein of the presentinvention.

As the immunogen, the protein of the present invention obtained by theproduction method of the present invention can be used. As analternative method, the immunogen may be a fragment or peptide having apartial structure appropriately selected from amino acid sequences shownin SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. A complex between an antigen and acarrier protein can be prepared by using various coupling agents. IForexample, glutaraldehyde, carbodiimide, maleimide active ester, and thelike can be used. The carrier protein may be those conventionally usedsuch as bovine serum albumin, thyroglobulin, and hemocyanin. Usually, amethod is used in which the carrier protein is coupled with the antigenin a proportion of 1- to 5-fold amount.

The animals to be immunized include mice, rats. rabbits, guinea pigs,hamsters and the like. The inoculation method includes subcutaneous,intramuscular and intraperitoneal administrations. Upon theadministration, the complex may be mixed with Freund's complete adjuvantor Freund's incomplete adjuvant before it can be administered. Theadministration is performed usually once in 2 to 5 weeks. Theantibody-producing cells obtained from the spleen or lymph node of theimmunized animal are subjected to cell fusion with myeloma cells andisolated as hybridomas. As the myeloma cells, those derived from mice,rats, humans and the like are used. They are preferably derived from thesame species as the antibody-producing cells but in some cases theimmunization is possible between different species.

The procedures of cell fusion can be practiced by a known method, forexample, a method of Kohler, G. and Milstein. C., Nature 256, 495, 1975.The fusion accelerator includes polyethylene glycol, Sendai virus andthe like. The cell fusion can be usually practiced by reacting the cellsat 20 to 40° C., preferably at 30 to 37° C. for about 1 to 10 minutes ina ratio of the number of antibody-producing cells to that of the myelomacells of usually about 1:1 to about 10:1 by using polyethylene glycol(average molecular weight: 1,000 to 4,000) in a concentration of usuallyabout 20 to 50%.

Various immunochemical methods can be used for the screening ofantibody-producing hybridomas. The immunochemical methods include, forexample, an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method using amicroplate having coated thereon the protein of the present invention,an EIA (enzyme immunoassay) method using a microplate having coatedthereon an anti-immunoglobulin antibody, an immunoblot method using anitrocellulose transfer membrane after electrophoresing a samplecontaining the protein of the present invention, and the like.

Further cloning from such wells may be performed, for example, by alimiting dilution method to obtain a clone. Screening and breeding ofhybridomas are performed in a medium for animal cells (for example,RPMI1640), usually containing HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine)through addition and 10 to 20% fetal calf serum. The clone thus obtainedcan be transplanted into abdominal cavity ofan SCID mouse preliminarilyadministered with pristane and the ascites containing a monoclonalantibody in a high concentration is collected therefrom after 10 to 14days to obtain a raw material for purifying antibody. Also, the clonecan be cultured and the culture may be used as a raw material forpurifying antibody. The recovery of monoclonal antibody may be achievedwithout difficulty by using a known method as a purification method forimmunoglobulins, for example, an ammonium sulfate fractionation method,a PEG fractionation method, an ethanol fractionation method, use of ananion exchange member, and further affinity chromatography and othermeans.

By using the antibody of the present invention, the protein of thepresent invention can be measured. lThe measurement can be performed bya conventional method using an antibody. For example, by theimmunological method using the antibody (preferably monoclonal antibody)of the present invention, qualitative and quantitative determination ofthe protein of the present invention in biological samples can beperformed. As the immunological method, a known method such as an immunetissue stain method, an enzyme immunoassay, an agglutination method, acompetitive method, or a sandwich method may be applied to samplesobtained by subjecting biological samples to appropriate treatment, forexample, separation of cells, extraction operation or the like, asnecessary. The immune tissue stain method can be performed, for example,by a direct method using a labeled antibody, and an indirect methodusing a labeled antibody against the antibody. As the labeling agent,any known labeling substances, such as fluorescent substances,radioactive substances, enzymes, metals, and dyestuffs can be used.

The antibody of the present invention may be used in the form of Fab′ orFab fraction free of Fe′ or Fc region or polymers thereof.Alternatively, the antibody of the invention may be a chimera antibodyor a humanized antibody thereof.

The screening for a substance such as a compound (such as drug) thataffects the expression of the protein of the present invention can bepracticed by culturing a cell expressing the protein of the presentinvention in the presence of a test substance, and then measuring theprotein of the present invention expressed in the cell or mRNA encodingthe protein in the cell.

The cell that expresses the protein of the present invention may beselected by Northern blotting, RT-PCR or the like. Also, the cell linemay be selected by a fluorescent antibody technique, an enzyme antibodymethod or the like using the antibody obtained by the method describedabove.

The selected cell is cultured in the presence of a test substance (forexample, the cell is cultured by adding a test substance to the cell)and then the mRNA expression amount is determined by Northern blotting,slot blot hybridization, RT-PCR, and the like, or the protein expressionamount is determined by fluorescent antibody technique, an enzymeantibody method, and the like, thereby measuring the influence of thetest substance on the expression of the protein of the presentinvention. For example, this can be done in accordance with the methodsdescribed in Example 3 and Example 6.

Furthermore, in order to enable screening of a large number of kinds oftest substances more readily, a promoter region controlling expressionof the protein of the invention may be identified and then an influenceof a test substance on a promoter activity may be measured.

The identification of the promoter region and the measurement of theinfluence of the test substance on the promoter activity may beperformed as follows. A clone that hybridizes with the 5′-region of cDNAencoding the protein of the present invention is selected out of a humanDNA library and is inserted into an appropriate promoter screeningsystem to select a clone having a promoter activity. In some cases, theregion indispensable for the promoter activity may be narrowed.

The DNA selected here that has a promoter region for the protein ol thepresent invention is inserted on the upstream side of the DNA encodingan enzyme whose activity can be readily measured, such as luciferase oralkaline phosphatase, to construct a reporter gene. The reporter gene isintroduced into a cell, for example, HeLa cell, that can be culturedtogether with a suitable resistant gene, such as Neo^(r) or hyg^(r) andthe cells are selected with a substance corresponding to the resistantgene to establish a cell line enabling measurement of the activity ofthe promoter that expresses the protein of the present invention. Bycausing the substance to act on the cell line, the activity of theintroduced enzyme is measured, thereby practicing screening for thesubstance that affects the expression of the protein of the presentinvention.

The protein of the present invention can be used as another screeningsystem for selecting a substance that affects the intracellularlocalization or distribution of the protein of the present invention.The screening may be performed by culturing a cell expressing theprotein of the present invention in the presence of a test substance andmeasuring distribution of the protein of the present invention in thecell.

An example of the screening method includes staining the cell line thatexpresses the protein of the present invention or transformant of thepresent invention by a fluorescent antibody technique, an enzymeantibody method or the like by using the antibody obtained by theabove-mentioned method and observing the stained cells under amicroscope to measure the influence of the test substance on theintracellular localization of the protein of the present invention. Forexample, this can be performed in accordance with the methods describedin Example 3 and Example 6.

Furthermore, the protein of the present invention can be used as stillanother screening system for selecting a substance that binds to theprotein of the present invention (that is, a substance having areactivity with the protein of the present invention). The screening maybe performed by mixing the protein of the present invention or a partialpeptide thereof with a test substance, and measuring an amount of thetest substance bound or not bound to the protein or the partial peptidethereof.

In this system, because the substance having reactivity with the proteinof the present invention is considered to bind to a part of the proteinof the present invention, a partial peptide of the protein of thepresent invention may be used. Therefore, the partial peptide issufficient to have such a part that binding to the partial peptidebecomes equivalent to binding to the protein of the present invention.

Also, the protein of the present invention may be in a form in which theprotein is expressed in cell membrane of the transformant of the presentinvention. Therefore, mixing the protein of the present invention withthe test substance includes mixing the transformant of the presentinvention or cell membrane thereof with the test substance.

The measurement ofthe test substance bound or not bound to the proteinof the present invention or the partial peptide thereof may be performedby reacting the protein of the present invention and a test substanceunder appropriate conditions and determine presence or absence of thebinding between the two. The determination can be performed by using,for example, a labeling substance as necessary.

Since the substance having reactivity with the protein of the presentinvention have a possibility that they affects the function of theprotein of the present invention and there is observed exocrinespecificity in distribution ol the protein of the present invention asdescribed in Examples, it is expected that substances having specificityto binding ability to the protein of the present invention have apossibility that they exhibit an organ-specific action.

Note that although the JEAP family whose structure has been actuallyanalyzed by the present invention is derived from a mouse, the method ofanalyzing JEAP family gene and method of screening it of the inventionare also encompassed by the scope of the present invention whenhuman-derived JEAP family is used.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be described in more detail by the followingexamples. However, the present invention should not be considered asbeing limited thereto. The antibodies and cells used in Examples were asfollows. Rat anti-mouse JEAP monoclonal antibody and rat anti-mouseJEAP-2 monoclonal antibody were prepared by a conventional method byimmunizing a rat with GST-JEAP fused protein containing amino acidsequence 808-882 (amino acid numbers in SEQ ID NO: 2) of JEAP andGST-JEAP-2 fused protein containing amino acid sequence 726-772 (aminoacid numbers in SEQ ID NO: 4) of JEAP-2, respectively. Rabbit anti-ZO-1polyclonal antibody, rabbit anti-claudin polyclonal-antibody, mouseanti-ZO-1 monoclonal antibody, and mouse anti-occludin monoclonalantibody were purchased from Zymed, Inc. Mouse anti-E-cadherinmonoclonal antibody was purchased from Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.

MDCK cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney cells) were cultured in a DMEMmedium with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). Mouse vascular endothelial cellline MS-1 was purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) andcultured in DMEM/5% FCS.

Example 1 Identification of cDNAs Encoding Proteins Localized atIntercellular Adhesion Site

To further characterize the molecular organization of intercellularadhesion, identification of novel cDNAs encoding proteins localized atcell—cell junctions was attempted by the localization-based expressioncloning method using a fluorescence-labeled protein (FIG. 1) of Kitamuraet al. (Misawa, K. et al., IProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 3062-3066,2000).

First, a pilot experiment was carried out in which an expressionrecombinant retrovirus expressing a fused protein between VF-cadherinlocalized at cell—cell junctions and a fluorescence protein EGFP wasinfected to various cell lines and fluorescent stained images wereobserved under a fluorescence microscope. As a result, no cell line thatshowed a clear fluorescent signal as viewed with naked eye existed sofar as was examined. Accordingly, it was attempted to make MDCK cellshaving high cell height and showing clear cell—cell junctions competentfor ecotropic retrovirus and use the competent cells in experiments. Theecotropic retrovirus competent MDCK cell (MDCK/EcoVR) was obtained asfollows. The ecotropic virus receptor (EcoVR) cDNA was inserted intopCAGGS-puro and it was transfected to the MDCK cells by usingLipofectAMINE reagent (Life Technologies. Inc.). After 24 hours, cultureof the cells in the presence of 5 μg/ml of puromycin was started andresistant clones were selected. Each clone was isolated and infectedwith pMXII-EGFPN expression recombinant retrovirus and a high competentclone was obtained. EcoVR cDNA and pMX expression vector were kindlyprovided by Dr. T. Kitamura (Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan).Transfection of VE-cadherin-EGFP expression recombinant retrovirus toMDCK/ErcoVR cells gave rise to bright fluorescent signals, whichindicated that the cell line was suitable for visual screening ofproteins localized at cell—cell junctions.

A cDNA-GFP fusion library was created from a mouse endothelial cell lineMS-1 based on a method of Kitamura et al. The resulting librarycontained 3×10⁵ independent clones and showed an average insert size ofcDNA with 1,500 bp. The expression library was then co-transfected into293/EBNA-1 cells (Invitrogen Corporation) with a virus packaging vector,pCL-Eco (Imgenex Corporation), by using TransiT LT1 (Mirus Corporation)to prepare a recombinant retrovirus. MDCK/EcoVR cells were infected withvariously diluted retrovirus supernatants to obtain singly infectedcells. The initial frequency of the EGFP-positive cells was about 4% asdetermined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Afterculture, EGFP-positive cells were sorted by a cell sorter and culturedat 50 cells per well in 96 well plates. When the cells became confluent,screening of 10 plates was performed under a fluorescent microscope andthere were selected 6 wells containing cells with junction-specificfluorescence of EGFP. These cells were replated into 10-cm dishes and asingle clone was obtained. Each clone was expanded in 24-well plates,and cDNA integrated into the chromosome was recovered by PCR from thegenomic DNA. Among the cDNAs encoding proteins showing thejunction-specific staining pattern, a novel cDNA encoding proteinunknown to be localized at cell—cell junctions was obtained.

Example 2 Cloning of Full-Length cDNA Encoding Mouse JEAP and JEAP-2

Using the cDNA fragment obtained in Example 1 as a probe, cDNA wascloned from a mouse MS-1 cell-derived cDNA library. The cloning of cDNAwas performed as follows. The total RNA of mouse MS-1 cell was extractedwith Trizol (Life Technologies, Inc.) and poly A(+) RNA was preparedwith oligo dT beads (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH). The cDNA library wasprepared based on this poly A (+)RNA with a Superscript II cDNAsynthesis kit (Life Technologies, Inc.) and a PMXII vector and used forscreening cDNAs. The nucleotide sequences were determined by use of D)yeTerminator Cycle Sequence Kit (Applied Biosystems, Inc.). The detail ofthe cloning is described in (1) below. A protein encoded by the obtainedcDNA was named JEAP.

Homology search using an amino acid sequence deduced from JEAP cDNArevealed that human cDNA clone KIAA0989 has homology thereto over thefull length thereof. This clone has been reported by Kazusa DNA ResearchInstitute as a gene whose function is unknown. Further, as a result ofhomology search using an amino acid sequence deduced from KIAA0989 cDNA,mouse EST clone (BF536192) and mouse cDNA clones (AF175967, AF175968)were identified to be partially homologous to each other. Using thesenucleotide sequences, another cDNA was separated from mouse MS-1 cellcDNA. Single strand cDNA was prepared with Superscript 11 reversetranscriptase (Life Technologies, Inc.) based on the poly A (+)RNA ofMS-1 cell and used for PCR. The nucleotide sequence of it was determinedby use of Dye Terminator Cycle Sequence Kit (Applied Biosystems, Inc.).The detail of the cloning is described in (2) below. A protein encodedby the obtained cDNA was named JEAP-2.

(1) Determination of cDNA of JEAP

A digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled probe was prepared by PCR by using the cDNAfragment obtained in Example 1 as a template and used for screening apMXII MS-1 cell cDNA library. As a result, a plurality of positiveclones were obtained, from which the nucleotide sequences of clones #2and #5 were determined. As a result of structural analysis bydetermining the nucleotide sequence of the part including the entireopen reading frame (ORF), JEAP cDNA contained ORF encoding a polypeptidewith 882 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 98.4 kD (SEQID NO: 1). JEAP contained a polyglutamic acid repeat at the N-terminalregion, a coiled-coil domain at the middle region and a consensus motiffor binding to PDZ domains at the C-terminal region (FIG. 2B).

RIKEN (the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) reported thesame mouse cDNA clone (BAB30287) as JEAIP to be a gene with unknownfunctions.

(2) Determination of cDNA of JEAP-2

A structural correlation search on Genbank/EMBL/DDBJ database resultedin identification of homology between human cDNA clone KIAA0989 and JEAPover the full length thereof. Furthermore, homology search using theamino acid sequence deduced from KIAA0989 cDNA identified mouse ESTclone (BF536192) and mouse cDNA clones (AF175967, AF175968) tobepartially homologous to each other. Then, a cDNA containing the entireORF was amplified from MS-1 cell cDNA by a PCR method by use of twokinds of primers of nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQID NO: 6 designed based on these mouse sequences. The cDNA was subclonedto pSPORT1 vector (Life Technology, Inc.) and it was namedPSPORT-JEAP-2. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that cDNA ofJEAP-2 contained ORF encoding a polypeptide with 772 amino acids havinga calculated molecular weight of 85.3 kD (SEQ ID NO: 3). The JEAP-2polypeptide showed a high similarity to the sequence of JEAP (42%identity on the level of amino acid sequence). Structural analysissuggested that JEAP-2, like JEAP, contains a sequence containing acoiled-coil domain at the middle region, a consensus motif for bindingto PDZ domains at the C-terminal region.

Example 3 Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody to Mouse JEAP and JEAP-2

A monoclonal antibody to mouse JEAP was prepared as follows. First, aregion encoding the amino acid sequence 808-882 (amino acid number inSEQ ID NO: 2) of JEAP was amplified by PCR using the clone #2 obtainedin Example 2 as a template and oligonucleotides of nucleotide sequencesshown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8 as primers and introduced intoGST fusion protein expressing vector (Amersham) and MBP fusion proteinexpressing vector (NEB) to express recombinant proteins. The GST-JEAPfusion protein was mixed with an adjuvant and a WKY rat was immunizedtherewith. Lymphocytes were isolated from the immunized rat and mixedwith P3 myeloma cells in a mixing ratio of 1:5 (myeloma/lymphocyte),followed by cell fusion using PEG 1,500 solution (Boehringer) to preparehybridomas. The prepared hybridomas were cultured in a 96-well plate for1 week and the supernatant was assayed by ELISA with an ELISA platehaving immobilized thereon MBP-JEAP fusion protein to identify positivewells. The hybridomas contained in the positive wells were cloned andfinally a rat anti-mouse JEAP monoclonal antibody was obtained.

The rat anti-mouse JEAP-2 monoclonal antibody was prepared in the samemanner as the JEAP monoclonal antibody. That is, a region encoding theamino acid sequence 726-772 (amino acid number in SEQ ID NO: 4) ofJEAP-2 was amplified by PCR using the pSPORT-JEAP-2 obtained in Example2 as a template and oligonucleotides of nucleotide sequences shown inSEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 9 as primers and introduced into GST fusionprotein expressing vector (Amersham) and MBP fusion protein expressingvector (NEB) to prepare recombinant proteins. The GST-JEAP-2 fusionprotein was mixed with an adjuvant and a WKY rat was immunizedtherewith. Lymphocytes were isolated from the immunized rat and mixedwith P3 myeloma cells in a mixing ratio of 1:5 (myeloma/lymphocyte),followed by cell fusion using PEG 1,500 solution (Boehringer) to preparehybridomas. The prepared hybridomas were cultured in a 96-well plate for1 week and the supernatant was assayed by ELISA with an ELISA platehaving immobilized thereon MBP-JEAP-2 fusion protein to identifypositive wells. The hybridomas contained in the positive wells werecloned and finally a rat anti-mouse JEAP-2 monoclonal antibody wasobtained.

Example 4 Expression and Intracellular Distribution of Mouse JEAP andJEAP-2

Whether the isolated cDNA clones contain the entire ORFs of JEAP andJEAP-2, respectively, was confirmed as follows by using the monoclonalantibody prepared in Example 3.

First, to prepare a JEAP expressing vector (pMXII JEAP IRES EGFP), theentire ORF of JEAP was amplified by PCR using oligonucleotides ofnucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 and SEQ ID NO: 10 as primers.SalI-NotI fragment of the PCR product was introduced into the SalI-NotIsite of PMXII IRES EGFP to construct pMXII JEAP IRES EGFP. A JEAP-2expressing vector, pMXII JEAP-2 IRES EIGFP, was constructed by excisinga SalI-NotI fragment containing the entire ORF of JEAP-2 frompSPORT1-JEAP-2 and introducing it into the SalI-NotI site of PMXII IRESEGFP.

The expression vector was transfected to 293/EBNA-1 cells (InvitrogenCorporation) by use of TransIT LT1 (Mirus Corporation). As SDSpolyacrylamide electrophoresis, one-dimensional SDS-PAGE was performedin accordance with the method of Laemmli (1970), followed byimmunoblotting, which was performed as follows. After transfer from thegel to a nitrocellulose membrane, the expressed protein was reacted withan antibody and the bound antibody was detected with peroxidase-labeledsecond antibody (Amersham) and ECL (Amersham) as a substrate for theenzyme.

A single band of 105-kDa was detected by Western blotting with ananti-JEAP monoclonal antibody in the extract of 293/EBNA-1 cellstransfected with JEAP expressing vector, but not in that fromnontransfected 293/EBNA-1 cells. The apparent molecular weight of theexpressed JEAP was identical with that of JEAP endogenously expressed inMS-1 cells. Therefore, it revealed that the isolated cDNA contain thefull-length of JEAP. Similarly, a single band of 105 kDa was detected byWestern blotting with an anti-JEAP-2 monoclonal antibody in the extractsof 293/EBNA-1 cells transfected with JEAP-2 expressing vector. In theextracts of nontransfected 293/EBNA-1 cells, a thin band that is thoughtto be derived from endogenous JEAP-2 was contain. The apparent molecularweight of the expressed JEAP-2 was identical with that of JEAP-2endogenously expressed in 293/EBNA-1 cells. Therefore, it revealed thatthe isolated cDNA contained the entire ORF of JEAP-2.

Next, to examine expression and distribution of mouse JEAP and JEAP-2,JEAP and JEAP-2 were each expressed in MDCK/EcoVR cells and the cellswere stained with a monoclonal antibody.

The expressing vector was cotransfected together with virus packagingvector pCL-Eco (Imgenex Corporation) to 293/EBNA-1 cells (InvitrogenCorporation) by use of TransIT LT1 (Mirus Corporation) to prepare arecombinant retrovirus. The recombinant virus was transfected toMDCK/EcoVR cells to obtain MDCK/EcoVR cells stably expressing JEAP orJEAP-2. The JEAP-expressing cells were confirmed by fluorescence of GFPor with an anti-JEAP antibody under a fluorescence microscope.JEAP-2-expressing cells were also confirmed similarity.

Then, intracellular distribution of these proteins was examined byconfocal microscopy comparing with those of ZO-1 and E-cadherin. Asshown in FIG. 3, both of the transfected JEAP and JEAP-2 were accuratelyco-localized with ZO-1 at TJs. Computerized sectional images clearlyindicated co-localization of JEAP and JEAP-2 which were denselyaccumulated, with ZO-1 at the apical region of the membrane of thegene-transfected MDCK cells. However, E-cadherin would appear to belocalized at lower sites, which indicates that its distribution does notoverlap the distribution of JEAP or JEAP-2. These findings indicate thatboth JEAP and JEAP-2 are concentrated at TJs.

Example 5 Expression of Mouse JEAP and JEAP-2 in Tissues in an Organism

Next, expression of JEAP and JEAP-2 in various tissues was examined.

First, tissue distribution of JEAP was examined by detecting expressionof JEAP in various mouse tissues (liver, brain, lung, kidney, spleen,testis, ovary, and heart) by Western blotting, and no JEAP was detectedin any of these tissues. Then, the tissue distribution of JEAP wasexamined by immunohistochemical staining. JEAP was detected specificallyin exocrine glands including pancreas, submandibular gland, lacrymalgland (FIG. 4), parotid gland, and sublingual gland, but not in brain,heart, liver, kidney, spleen, gallbladder, or small intestine. Inexocrine glands, JEAP was expressed around the terminal portion ofserous glands. In the terminal gland portion, JEAP showed a similarstaining pattern to that of ZO-1. Observation by immunoelectronmicroscopy revealed that JEAP indeed localized at TJs but not at AJs ordesmosomes, in the lacrymal gland (FIG. 4).

Then, the tissue distribution of JEAP-2 was examined byimmunohistochemical staining. For JEAP-2 too, expression in exocrineglands such as pancreas, submandibular gland, and lacrymal gland (FIG.5) was confirmed, but not in small intestine. These findings indicatethat JEAP and JEAP-2 have tissue specificity and localize particularlyat TJs of exocrine glands in large amounts.

Example 6 Incorporation of JEAP into Cell-Cell Junctions Along withOther Components of TJs

Finally, the behaviors of JEAP and other AJs and TJs components duringthe disruption and reformation of cell—cell junctions were monitored.For this purpose, MDCK/EcoVR cells stably expressing JEAP as prepared inExample 4 were used to perform the experiment. It has been known thatwhen MDCK cells are cultured in the presence of 2 μM Ca²⁺ for 2 hours,AJs and TJs are disrupted and the staining of the AJ and TJ componentsexcept ZO-1 disappear from the periphery of the plasma membrane.Further. it has also been known that when the cells in this state arerecultured in the presence of 2 mM Ca for 2 hours, AJs and TJsrelocalize where all the AJ and TJ components reconcentrate at thecell—cell junctions.

In culturing in an ordinary medium, JEAP co-localized at the cell—celljunctions together with ZO-1 in the same manner as shown in Example 4.When the cells were cultured in the presence of 2 μM Ca²⁺ for 2 hours,the immunofluorescence signal for JEAP disappeared, whereas thefluorescence signal for ZO-1 partially remained near the plasma membranethough the intensity decreased. When the cells in this state werecultured in the presence of 2 mM Ca²⁺ for 2 hours, JEAP reconcentrate atthe cell—cell junctions together with ZO-1. Furthermore, it has beenknown that culturing at 2 μM Ca²⁺ for 2 hours followed by furtherculturing for 1 hour with addition of 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanolylphorbol13-acetate (TPA) results in reformation of a structure similar to thatof TJs but does not result in reformation of AJs. It has been shown thatTJ components, i.e., claudin, occludin, JAM, nectin, ZO-1 and afadinconcentrate at the structural site similar to TJs of cell—cell junctionsinduced with TPA but AJ components, i.e., E-cadherin, α-catenin andβ-catenin, do not concentrate there. Here, JEAP along with ZO-1concentrated at the structural site similar to TJs of cell—celljunctions induced with TPA. In the same manner, JEAP concentrated at thestructural site similar to TJs of cell—cell junction induced with TPAalong with claudin-1 and accludin.

These findings indicate that JEAP is incorporated into TJs along withother components of TJs.

The foregoing description is to be understood as being representativeonly and is not intended to be limiting. Alternative methods andmaterials for implementing the invention and also additionalapplications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, andare intended to be included within the scope of the accompanying claims.

1. An antibody or antibody fragment that reacts with a protein of thefollowing (a) or (b): (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence shownin SEQ ID NO: 4; and (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence havinga deletion, substitution or addition of a single amino acid in an aminoacid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and localizing attight junctions, with a proviso that the protein is not a protein havingan amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 2. The antibody of claim1, wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a monoclonal antibody orantibody fragment.
 3. The antibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody orantibody fragment is a polyclonal antibody or antibody fragment.
 4. Theantibody of claim 1, wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is achimeric antibody or antibody fragment.
 5. The antibody of claim 1,wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a humanized antibody orantibody fragment.
 6. The antibody of claim 1, wherein the antibodyfragment is an Fab or Fab′ antibody fragment.
 7. The antibody of claim1, wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is labeled.
 8. The antibodyof claim
 7. wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is labeled with afluorescent tag.
 9. The antibody of claim 7, wherein the antibody orantibody fragment is labeled with an enzymatic tag.